Gage for railroad-ties.



No. 647,840. Patented Apr. l7, I900.

C. JOHNSON.

GAGE FOR RAILROAD TIES.

(Application filed July 19, 1899.)

(No Model-j W/T/VESSES: 0 A INVE 0H Q M Q 6M g 1 omvgr I UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE).

CHRISTIAN JOHNSON, OF MONA, IOWA.

GAGE FOR RAILROAD-TIES SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.647,840, dated April 17, 1900,

Application filed July 19, 1899. Serial No. 724,407. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN J oHNsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mona, in the county of Mitchell and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in- Railroad-Tie Markers;and I -be easily, quickly, and accurately adjusted an equal distancefrom the rail, and has for one object to provide a light, simple, and durable construction and one that can be conveniently handled.

A further object is to provide a device which will not only mark theties an equal distance from the end, but one that will make the markextend across the tie at a right angle thereto, so that when the mark onthe tie is laid parallel with the outside base of the rail the tie willextend straight across the track or at right angles to the rail.

It has hitherto been the custom to measure the distance that the ends ofthe ties are to extend outside of the rail by means of a mark made onthe maul and pick handles of the workman, which is a verylaborious anduncertain method.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of my devicewith the markingslide partly raised, and Fig. 2 is a perspective View ofthe device folded.

In the drawings, a a represent two parallel members, which, togetherwith the crosspieces I) b at the ends thereof, form the baseframe of mydevice. Hinged to the crosspiece I) of the base-frame are two standards0 0, connected together at their lower ends by a cross-piece d and attheir upper ends by a cross-piece e, which also serves as a handle h.The standards 0 c are held in an upright position by means of theslotted rod 2', which is pivoted at 70 to the bed-frame, and a bolt Z,

passing through the standard 0 and the slot 1;v in the rod 6, the saidbolt being provided with a thumb-screw m. By loosening the thumb-screw mthe standards can be folded upon the base-frame, when the screw can beretightened and the device will be in a con is a board 71., carrying aplate 0, provided with r a sharp edge or teeth 0. A handle 0 is formedon the upper end of the said board at, and a projecting finger p,securedto the lower inner face of the said board by coming into contact withthe cross-piece d, prevents the teeth 0 entering too deep in the tie.

Bolts q, provided with thumb-screws and working in slots q, formed inthe base-frame, carry a cross-piece r on their lower ends be neath thesaid frame, by means of which the distance to be marked on the tie canbe regulated.

In order to quickly adjust the device on a tie and to have the cutextend square across the face thereof, the lower end .9 of the standard0 projects below the base-frame and a block t is secured to theprojecting end it of the rod 2'.

The operation of my device is as follows: After the standard or uprightportion is secured in its vertical position the bed-frame is placed uponthe tie desired to be marked, the cross-piece r touching the end of thetie and the extension .9 of the standard 0 and the block 25 on the rod 2touching the side of the tie. The board 72 is then raised by means ofthe handle 0" to a suitable height and released. The board will descendof its own weight and cause the cutting edge or teeth 0 of the plate 0,secured to the lower end of the board, to enter the tie a sufficientdistance to leave a clear impression.

In operating on very hard ties as much pressure as is necessary may begiven to the handie of theboard in its descent by the hand of theoperator.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim is 1. A device formarking railroad-ties having a base-frame, standards hinged to the saidframe, a sliding marker between the said standards, and a slotted rodpivoted to the said base-frame and slidably connected to one of the saidstandards by means of a bolt passing through the said slot,substantially as set forth.

2. A device for marking railroad-ties having a base-frame, standardshinged to the said frame, handle connecting the upper ends of the saidstandards, sliding member between the said standards provided with atoothed plate, and an adjusting means on the said bed-frame forregulating the distance to be marked on the tie, substantially as setforth;

3. A device for marking railroad-ties consisting of a base-frame,slotted standards hinged to the said base-frame, a sliding memberbetween the said standards provided with a handle, a toothed platesecured to the said sliding member, slotted rod secured pii' otally' tothe said base-frame and connected with one of the said standards, thelower end of 15 the said rod and the standard to which it is connectedprojecting below the base-frame, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTIAN JOHNSON. Witnesses:

F. H. FISCHER, A. H. ANDERSON.

